Pereira, who voted against Testani as an acting superintendent, continued to maintain he is not qualified to hold the position because he lacks a superintendent certification. He is working toward one.

Sokolovic said he would have liked to have seen the school board negotiate a lower salary given its financial problems. The district still has to cut millions of dollars to reach the budget set by the city.

The contract also gives Testani a $100 a month car allowance, use of a lap top and use of a cellphone. It calls for an evaluation six months into his tenure.

Along with the contract came a memorandum of understanding that will allow Testani to revert to his role as director of adult education at the conclusion of his acting superintendent assignment. It also requires him to leave the Bridgeport Council of Administrators and Supervisors union for the next year. He was vice president of the bargaining unit.

Pereira voted against the memorandum because she said it suggests Testani will be allowed to return to his previous post “permanently.”

A memorandum of understanding was also approved that will give the four members of Testani’s cabinet $10,000 stipends in their new, temporary roles.

Fairchild Wheeler Principal Victor Black will be executive director of secondary education. Winthrop Principal Selena Morgan and Math Director Hermino Planas will become executive directors of elementary education and Literacy Director Melissa Jenkins will become the executive director of early childhood education.

That vote was also 4-2 with the same board members voting no and yes.

Pereira said she does not have any issue with the individuals selected to serve in the roles but said it sets a poor tone that the jobs weren’t posted and they all came from the hierarchy of the administrator’s union.

Sokolovic’s concern is what will happen to the jobs the individuals are leaving. The intention is to have the directors, in addition to supervising schools, also continue to oversee math and literacy.

“It’s very problematic,” said Sokolovic. The district posts some of the lowest academic scores in the state on standardized tests. There are new math and science curriculum, he said.

During recent efforts to reduce a projected multi-million operating budget shortfall, the board debated but rejected the notion of cutting curriculum directors.

“I don’t want the community to get the wrong idea that we are eliminating the whole math department,” Illingworth said. “In a sense we are, but we are not. These directors are taking on additional responsibilities ... I 100 percent support it.”

Testani said he also plans to assemble committees of teachers who will specialize in math, science and literacy. It is not clear if extra pay will come with that assignment.

It is unclear what will happen to the district’s science director, who appears not to have been made part of his cabinet.

“I cannot discuss that yet,” Testani said.

The search for a permanent superintendent, meanwhile is expected to get under way later this summer when the board meets the two search firms that responded to a recent request for proposals.

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